Pope urges Catholic faithful to shun materialism APARECIDA, Brazil (AP) — Pope Francis made an emotional plea Wednesday for Roman Catholics to shun materialism in the first public Mass of his initial international trip as pontiff, then met with drug addicts and denounced the “dealers of death” who fuel their suffering. On his first full day of activities in Brazil, Francis traveled from one of the most important shrines in Latin America, Our Lady of Aparecida, to what he called a “shrine of ...

William, Kate, show off their royal newborn son LONDON (AP) — Prince William and his wife Kate presented their newborn son to the world for the first time Tuesday, drawing whoops and wild applause from well-wishers as they revealed the new face of the British monarchy — though not, yet, his name. “We’re still working on a name. So we’ll have that as soon as we can,” William told scores of reporters gathered outside St. Mary’s Hospital as he cradled the child. The young family’s debut public...

Pope wants to be with people; clergy want him safe RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Pope Francis’ decision to shun a major security detail for his visit to Brazil exemplifies his view of what the Roman Catholic Church should be doing: Go out into the streets. Spread the faith. Recapture the dynamism that other denominations have been using to snap up souls. Upon his arrival in Rio de Janeiro this week, that philosophy helped produce a defining vignette of his young papacy: The pope rolling down the windo...

AP Exclusive: NKorea halts rocket launch-pad work SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has stopped construction work at a site meant to launch bigger and better long-range rockets, a possible sign that Pyongyang is slowing or even halting development of larger rockets, according to a new analysis of recent satellite imagery. The sight of unfinished roads and grass growing from the foundation of a large new rocket assembly building could be welcome news for Washington and others who see Pyong...

It's a boy! UK's Kate gives birth to royal heir LONDON (AP) — It's a boy! Prince William's wife, Kate, has given birth to a prince who is now third in line to the British throne. The child was born Monday, after many Britons woke up to the news that Kate, also known as the Duchess of Cambridge, had gone into labor with the couple's first child. The birth announcement, via a press release from Kensington Palace, said the boy was born at 4:24 p.m. weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces. William was pres...

Catholic youths converge on Rio to see “slum pope” BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Thousands of young Roman Catholics from around the Americas are converging on Rio de Janeiro, taking dayslong bus trips or expensive plane flights that were paid for by baking cookies and holding garage sales, running raffles and bingo tournaments and even begging for coins in public plazas. Some of the poorest traveled from so-called “misery villages” in Argentina’s capital, thanks to donations from the Buenos A...

Pope seeks Catholic rebirth in land of samba RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The white sands of Copacabana beach typically draw millions of sun-worshippers, New Year’s Eve revelers and fans for free concerts by the likes of Stevie Wonder and the Rolling Stones. In the coming week, the star of the show is infinitely less flamboyant than Mick Jagger, but he promises to stir up just as much passion among devotees. Pope Francis, the 76-year-old Argentine who became the church’s first pontiff from the ...

Upbeat health report for Mandela on 95th birthday JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Hospital visitors say Nelson Mandela smiled and nodded Thursday — his 95th birthday — and South Africans celebrated upbeat reports about the former president’s health after weeks of worrying that he was on the verge of death. Children sang “Happy Birthday” at school assemblies nationwide, and many honored the man known as “the father of the nation” by performing acts of charity for 67 minutes, symbolizing Mandela’s 67 years...

Capture of Zetas leader unlikely to quell violence MEXICO CITY (AP) — The capture of the notoriously brutal Zetas leader Miguel Angel Trevino Morales represents a serious blow to Mexico’s most feared drug cartel, but experts cautioned that taking down the group’s command structure is unlikely to diminish violence in the border states where it dominates through terror. Trevino Morales, 40, was captured before dawn Monday by Mexican marines who intercepted a pickup truck with $2 million in cash ...

Panama finds suspected weapons on N. Korean ship PANAMA CITY (AP) — A North Korean ship carrying weapons system parts buried under sacks of sugar was seized as it tried to cross the Panama Canal on its way from Cuba to its home country, which is barred by United Nations sanctions from importing sophisticated weapons or missiles, Panamanian officials said Tuesday. A private defense analysis firm that examined a photograph of the find said the ship appeared to be transporting a radar-control s...

In the night, train brings grief to Quebec town LAC-MEGANTIC, Quebec (AP) — It was surely the most festive spot in town as a Friday night turned into a Saturday morning at the Musi-Cafe — a full house, live music, plenty of beer and nachos to animate long-time friends. Among the dozens enjoying themselves in the pub was a sizable contingent of the Lafontaine clan, celebrating the 40th birthday of a daughter of prominent local businessman Raymond Lafontaine. Four days later - having lost a s...

At least 6 dead in France train crash near Paris BRETIGNY-SUR-ORGE, France (AP) — A train carrying hundreds of passengers derailed and crashed into a station outside Paris on Friday on one of the busiest days of the year for vacation getaways. At least six people were killed and dozens were injured, officials said. The crash was the deadliest in France in several years. French President Francois Hollande rushed to the scene at the Bretigny-sur-Orge station, 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of ...

Snowden says he wants asylum in Russia MOSCOW (AP) — Edward Snowden emerged from weeks of hiding in a Moscow airport Friday, still defiant but willing to stop leaking secrets about U.S. surveillance programs if Russia will give him asylum until he can move on to Latin America. Snowden’s meeting with Russian officials and rights activists cleared up uncertainty about where the former National Security Agency systems analyst is, but left open the big question: What comes next? Snowde...

Pope Francis clears John Paul II for sainthood VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Friday cleared two of the 20th century’s most influential popes to become saints, approving a miracle needed to canonize Pope John Paul II and waiving Vatican rules to honor Pope John XXIII. It was a remarkable show of papal authority and confirmed Francis’ willingness to bend church tradition when it comes to things he cares deeply about. Both popes are also closely identified with the Second Vatican Counci...

Egypt: Interim president sworn in amid crackdown CAIRO (AP) — A senior judge was sworn in as Egypt’s interim president Thursday to replace ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi as the military launched a major crackdown against the Muslim Brotherhood. Reeling from what it called a military coup against democracy, the group said it would not work with the new political system. The sweep against the Brotherhood leadership included the group’s top leader, a figure venerated among its followe...

WHO study: Third of women suffer domestic violence LONDON (AP) — In the first major global review of violence against women, a series of reports released Thursday found that about a third of women have been physically or sexually assaulted by a former or current partner. The head of the World Health Organization, Dr. Margaret Chan, called it “a global health problem of epidemic proportions,” and other experts said screening for domestic violence should be added to all levels of health care. Am...

Dem senator presses Pentagon on Guantanamo feeding WASHINGTON (AP) — The force-feeding of terror suspects at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, runs counter to international standards, medical ethics and the practices at American prisons, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee said Wednesday in pressing the Pentagon to establish a more humane treatment. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who traveled to Guantanamo earlier this month, wrote in a letter to Defense Secretar...

Turkey’s ’standing man’ to join ranks of icons? The image was stark: a silent, solitary figure standing in passive defiance to the Turkish prime minister’s demand for protesters to clear Taksim Square in central Istanbul. The challenge by performance artist Erdem Gunduz is catching on with other protesters in Turkey, encouraged by social media into imitating his gesture across the country. It’s too early to tell whether the “standing man” protests will make a difference in the weeks-long ch...

US, Taliban to start talks on ending Afghan war KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban and the U.S. said Tuesday they will hold talks on finding a political solution to ending nearly 12 years of war in Afghanistan, as the international coalition formally handed over control of the country’s security to the Afghan army and police. The Taliban met a key U.S. demand by pledging not to use Afghanistan as a base to threaten other countries, although the Americans said they must also denounce al-Q...

USSR’s old domain name attracts cybercriminals MOSCOW (AP) — The Soviet Union disappeared from the map more than two decades ago. But online an ‘e-vil empire’ is thriving. Security experts say the .su Internet suffix assigned to the USSR in 1990 has turned into a haven for hackers who’ve flocked to the defunct superpower’s domain space to send spam and steal money. Capitalist concerns, rather than Communist nostalgia, explain the move. “I don’t think that this is really a political thing,”...